Randomized trial comparing vindesine plus cisplatin with vinblastine plus cisplatin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, with an analysis of methods of response assessment

One hundred eight patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer were randomly assigned to receive cisplatin (120 mg/m²) with either vindesine (3 mg/m²) or vinblastine (6 mg/m²). None had previously received chemotherapy. An additional goal was to determine if the observation of visible evluable lesions was as accurate a method of response assessment as the observation of bidimensionally measurable lesions in non-small cell lung cancer. When vindesine plus cisplatin was compared to vinblastine plus cisplatin, response rates (33% vs 41%), median response durations (8.6 vs 5.6 months), and median survival times of responding patients (18.4 vs 16.2 months) were similar. Response rates, response durations, and survival times of responding patients determined through the observation of evaluable or measurable indicator lesions did not differ significantly. More patients receiving vinblastine plus cisplatin experienced wbc counts < 2100/mm³ (P = 0.003). The two regimens demonstrated comparable response and survival data but clinically significant leukopenia was more common in vinblastine-treated patients. There was no difference in response data obtained through the study of patients with measurable and evaluable indicator lesions.